The 49ers got the win on Sunday, but the pass rush didn’t exactly look like the kind of unit that should scare anyone into panic mode.
San Francisco beat the Las Vegas Raiders 38-17 and forced five turnovers, yet the pressure up front never fully took over the game. Kirk Cousins, who threw three interceptions, was pressured on just 31.3% of his dropbacks - 24th among quarterbacks heading into Sunday Night Football in Week 9. That’s not disastrous, but it also isn’t the kind of number that screams “problem solved,” even with DeForest Buckner back in the mix and Nick Bosa returning from injury.
That’s why the 49ers may still be hunting for help before Tuesday’s trade deadline, and one name has now surfaced as a particularly interesting fit: Jets edge rusher Will McDonald IV.
According to NFL Network and ESPN’s Ian Rapoport, McDonald has asked the Jets to trade him. Rapoport said the 27-year-old is unhappy with how New York has used him, noting that he has been deployed more as a situational rusher this season.
The fit with San Francisco is easy to see. McDonald was viewed as a natural match for the 49ers’ wide 9 front when he entered the league in 2023, a year when San Francisco didn’t have a first-round pick. He came out with the kind of athletic profile teams covet, along with clear explosiveness on tape, a polished pass-rush plan, and the kind of versatility that showed up at Iowa State, where he often played essentially on the interior in a 3-3-5 front.
He’s also produced. McDonald has 24.5 career sacks, including three this season as the Jets have stumbled to a 2-7 start. He posted eight sacks last year and 10.5 in 2024.
Rapoport added that teams have checked in on McDonald, but the Jets have not entered trade talks and do not intend to do so.
Still, the situation is the kind that can shift fast this time of year, and the 49ers have reason to keep pushing. McDonald is under contract through 2027, which only adds to the appeal of a player who could strengthen the edge rotation and give San Francisco more flexibility up front.
That matters even more with rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton out for the season because of an ankle injury. A move for McDonald would help on the edge and could also allow Mykel Williams and Keion White to move inside more often to help cover for Halton’s absence.
Buckner was a smart, cost-effective addition, but the 49ers may not be done. The edge still looks like the spot to attack, and McDonald is the cleanest fit on the board.
In Other News...
Raiders Rivalry Put The 49ers In Focus For The Wrong Reason
The preseason meeting between the 49ers and Raiders at Levis Stadium was supposed to be about football, but the rivalry again spilled far beyond the field. Multiple brawls broke out among fans in the stands and in the parking lot, turning a familiar Bay Area matchup into a scene of repeated violent altercations.
The bad blood between the franchises has long meant extra security and a heightened edge around these games, yet the incidents still escalated before law enforcement could get them under control. Video from the stadium showed fans from both sides trading punches and struggling through the seats as others tried to step in, a reminder that this rivalry can still overshadow the game itself. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Cant Ignore Mykel Williams At A Brutal Time
Mykel Williams arrived in San Francisco with the kind of draft pedigree that usually buys a little patience, but the early returns have been hard to ignore. The 11th overall pick has spent much of his first season trying to carve out a pass-rushing identity, and even after returning from injury earlier this year, he still has not shown the kind of consistent disruption the 49ers expected when they made him such a high selection.
The bigger concern is that the edge-rushing conversation around the roster has not centered on Williams, with Keion White drawing more attention while the rookies role remains in flux. For a team that needs impact off the edge, the timing is becoming awkward, and the 49ers may soon have to decide how long they can keep waiting for Williams to turn draft status into production. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Suddenly Have A Trade Deadline Dilemma At Wide Receiver
The 49ers have found themselves dealing with a wide receiver issue that is bigger than the usual trade-deadline shopping list. Brandon Aiyuk remains on the reserve/left squad list while he seeks reinstatement to the NFL, and the league is requiring him to repay roughly $13 million in bonuses as part of the process. San Francisco and general manager John Lynch are working with the NFL Management Council on a resolution, all while the team tries to keep its receiver room together through a stretch of injuries.
That backdrop has only added fuel to the speculation around what the 49ers might do before the deadline, especially with a potential move involving George Pickens being openly discussed around the league, even if nothing has been confirmed. For a team trying to stay competitive now and sort out its long-term receiver picture at the same time, the next few days could bring a decision that says plenty about how urgently San Francisco wants to address the position. [Read more 🡒]